Summary
TheGhostbustersreturn forGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, bringing in a cast old and new to bust those pesky New York City ghosts that just don’t know when to quit. Fans ofGhostbusterscan expect a fun ride, with plenty of easter eggs and references that will set off their PKE meters.Ghostbustershas been around since the 80s, so it’s no surprise that the 4th film in the series has plenty ofcallbacks harking to decades prior.
Fans of the classics will be plenty impressed with the easter eggs inGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, but the selection is rather limited, and there’s a scarcity of classic ghosts from the movies and animated series of the past. Nevertheless, the easter eggs that do feature add to thefun of the moviebut are never the focal point of the scene.
10Slime Blowers
The Iconic Ghost Bustin' Weapons From Ghostbusters 2
Quite a few scenes ofGhostbusters: Frozen Empiretake place in a new facility funded by Winston Zeddermore for his engineers to study ghosts and try and separate objects from their possessors. This large room also has a testing area, where characters can be seen in the background using new gadgets. Yet, one gadget appears in the distance as an utter classic, andGhostbusters 2fans might recall it fondly.
In the background, audiences can spot theSlime Blowers used inGhostbusters2. One of the engineers is spraying down another, perhaps to test the effects of the slime, asGhostbusters 2shows that pink slime can provide positive and negative emotions.
9Janine As A Ghostbuster
Janine’s Live-Action Debut As A Ghostbuster, Seen First In The Real Ghostbusters
An easter egg for fans ofThe Real Ghostbusters, fans finally get to see Janine Melnitz in uniform. Within the 1986 animated series,Janine puts on her own Ghostbusters costumemore than a few times, and happily aids the team in busting ghosts, showing she’s not just a spunky secretary. The same is said and done forGhostbusters: Frozen Empire.
Janine can be seen wearing the iconic outfits of the Ghostbusters, as well as a new device that lookslike a proton packbut as a gauntlet. Whilst Janine doesn’t get up to much busting in the movie, it’s still great to see her suit up as one of the OGs.
8Ray’s Smoking Habits
Ray Stantz Quits Smoking After Ghostbusters 2
When the team asks if anyone has a lighter, Ray replies that he stopped smoking in the 90s. Whilst this may be a burden to their current predicament, it’s a nice callback toRay’s bad habit, where he can be smoking throughoutGhostbusters(1984), and smoking a cigar inGhostbusters 2. It’s a nice reference for super fans to remember that yes, Ray Stantz was indeed a smoker, but has cut out that habit to study the occult.
This is one of those deep-rooted easter eggs that show how much care is put into theGhostbustersfranchise, as it’s probably a forgotten fact that Ray smokes, unless audiences recall that iconic frame where he lays eyes on Slimer for the first time, and the cigarette hangs from his mouth in bewilderment.
7The Librarian Ghost
The Shushing Ghost Of New York’s Public Library Is Still At Large
As Ray, Phoebe, and Podcast head to the New York Public Library, they are sent on a wild goose chase to get their hands on a thieving possessor. Yet, running amok in this library isn’t the wisest of ideas, as it’s still haunted by the Librarian Ghost, the first ghost audiences see in the originalGhostbustersmovie, and one that likes to keep things calm and quiet whilst she roams the library reading books and shushing people.
Not only is it great to see the Library Ghost, but it’s also hilarious to think that the Ghostbusters just never bothered to bust herback in the 80sand 90s, and instead just left her there to read books. It seems she even recognizes Ray, as she turns into her horror form and chases him for a brief moment.
6The Colander Hat
The Hat Worn By A Possessed Louis Tully Returns
With Peter Venkman back in academia, it’s no surprise that he would have kept a few genius inventions of his colleagues, Ray Stantz and the late Egon Spengler. Peter makes use of the classic colander hat, seen last on the head of Louis Tully whenhe was the Gatekeeper, holding a Terror Dog within him.
This time around, it’s used on Nadeem. It’s fun to see a classic gadget back in aGhostbustersmovie, especially when it’s made out of a colander used to hold pasta. It’s a fun callback and one of a few that fans can expect.
5Roger Delacorte
The Library Administrator Of Ghostbusters (1984) Returns
The library administrator returns inGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, and declares that Ray Stantz is banned from the New York Public Library. Ray doesn’t seem to care about this ban and carries on inside anyway. Whilst this cameo is brief, it’s still an obvious one that can cause a smile to fans who know theirspookyGhostbusterslore.
Roger Delacorte was last seen in the originalGhostbusters, where he tried to get Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, and Egon Spengler to investigate the ghost that haunts their library. It’s fun to see him back, especially with a similar level of nervousness and frustration over Ray who has left that shushing ghost inside even decades later.
4Walter Peck
The Former EPA Pest Is Now The Mayor Of NYC
A name that makes the Ghostbusters shudder with annoyance, Walter Peck returns, again. As an inspector of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Walter Peck was a nasty thorn in the Ghostbusters’ side and managed to shut down their containment unit, causing mass hysteria in New York City. Somehow, Walter Peck has returned, and this time he has more power than ever because he’s the mayor of New York City.
For 40 years, Walter Peck has hated the Ghostbusters, and now that this is his city, he’s going to do anything in his legal disposal to shut them down and make sure that the beloved firehouse is nothing but a pile of bricks. Whilst it’s great to see the actor in top form as the character, Walter Peck is still as annoying as ever.
3The Statue Of Liberty Incident Of 1989
A News Report References Ghostbusters 2’s Living Statue Of Liberty
Early intoGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, a news report recalls the time the Ghostbusters hitched a ride on none other than the Statue of Liberty. It’s great to see this moment referenced, as although it was made clear inGhostbusters: Afterlifethat the previous films were canon, there was some concern and a divide over the status ofGhostbusters 2, as the infamous sequel wasn’t referenced as much as the first.
Thankfully, the answer has never been clearer, asGhostbusters 2is thrust proudly into the canon timeline, as it should be. The news report not only mentions the Statue of Liberty incident, but even showcases some footage of the four Ghostbusters: Ray, Egon, Winston, and Peter, within the crown of the Statue of Liberty.
2Chess With Egon Spengler
Phoebe Thinks She’s Playing Chess Again With Her Grandfather
When Phoebe gets benched from the Ghostbusters team due to the fact that she’s still a minor, and cannot be in employment, let alone dangerous employment, she goes to Central Park to clear her head. Here, she lays out a chess table and is amazed when the pieces begin to move on their own, providing her with a competent opponent to play chess with.
For Phoboe, this excitement may be in the fact that she doesn’t have to play chess by herself, and it can also be because she thinks she is once again playing chess with her grandfather, Egon Spengler, who she last played with inGhostbusters: Afterlife. Sadly, it’s another ghost, much to her disappointment, as her grandfather has moved on from the spirit world.
1Slimer’s Butt
The Controversial Green Butt Of Slimer Returns
Slimer is a funny little spud, and there has been much division over the years regarding his characterization and his physical appearance. Whilst most may just view him as an ugly little green blob, many might remember in the originalGhostbustersthat he actually has a butt, and it’s not just a smooth green backside, but one with comically grotesque cheeks to add more humor to the ghostly design.
Luckily for fans of Slimer, he returns in all his glory, and it seemsFrozen Empirewasn’t afraid to cheek him up, putting the butt back on Slimer, even if it’s not the prettiest to look at. Audiences can easily miss it when Slimer runs away, but it might be something they’re not too keen on spotting anyway.
